Switzerland Schedule & Results | Scouting Report | Road to Euro 2004

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Style of Play:
Switzerland uses a tight, tactically sound 4-4-2 formation. The defence plays as a flat-back four, holding down the fort instead of taking chances by venturing forward. The two central defenders (Patrick Muller and Murat Yakin) anchor the defence. The four midfielders play in a classic diamond shape. One midfielder (Johann Vogel) plays as a defensive shield just in front of the back line, giving the defenders support. Two midfielders in front of him (usually Ricardo Cabanas and Raphael Wicky) take positions out on the wings and extend the attack out wide. The fourth midfielder (Hakan Yakin) plays in a deep-lying position just behind the two strikers (Stephane Chapuisat and Alex Frei), acting as the playmaker and creating chances by spreading the ball around. It’s this fourth midfielder that is the key to success for the Swiss, as he’s the engineer and architect of the attack and routinely presses forward alongside the two forwards to give Switzerland another scoring threat. If this midfielder is shut down by the opposing team, the attack sputters. Don’t be surprised to see the Swiss go to a 4-5-1 formation against France, adding another player in midfield to try and stop the potent French attack and try to catch them on the counterattack.

Strengths:
Momentum – Switzerland comes into Euro 2004 on a major high having topped a tough qualifying group that included Russia and the Republic of Ireland. A pair of convincing wins over the Irish, the pre-qualifying favourite for their group, gives the Swiss a major confidence boost as they head to Portugal, knowing that they have it within them to defeat stronger teams.

Team Unity – Not a team of international superstars, Switzerland’s success in qualifying for Euro 2004 was due to team unity. There are few egos in this side; every player knows his role in this well-organized side, every player gives a maximum effort every time they step onto the field and they play as a cohesive unit.

Blend of old and young – Coach Kobi Kuhn has fashioned a team that brilliantly mixes seasoned veterans with aspiring youngsters ready to reach the next level. Old-guard players such as defender Stephane Henchoz and forward Stephane Chapuisat will help mentor such exciting newcomers as defender Stephan Keller and midfielder Ricardo Cabanas.

Weaknesses:
Tough group – Switzerland has its work cut out for itself in Group B. Defending Euro champions France are the team to beat at this year’s tournament, while England is one of the top teams in Europe. Even Croatia, although far from equalling the standard of the 1998 squad that finished third at the World Cup, will prove a stiff test for the Swiss.

Lack of pedigree – Switzerland has missed out on three successive big tournaments, with its last major appearance coming at Euro 96 – eight years ago. Though the Swiss do have players with international experience, it’s doubtful those handful of players will be able to make up for the team’s overall lack of international class.

One-pronged attack – Switzerland’s attack hinges almost entirely on the play of midfielder Hakin Yakin. If teams can neutralize the gifted playmaker, they will have effectively shut down Switzerland’s attack, as it doesn’t have another creative midfielder who can create scoring chances and lead the offensive charge.

Key Players to watch:
Hakin Yakin – A talismanic playmaker with a goal-scorer’s touch, Yakin is the midfield general of Switzerland’s attack. Yakin combines deft dribbling, visionary passing skills and free-kick prowess, and has a knack of crafting scoring chances out of nothing. He can also play up front as a striker.

Alexander Frei – The 25-year-old striker was one of the true revelations in Ligue 1 (French first division) this past season with Rennes. A product of Switzerland’s youth development system, Frei is an energetic, athletic striker that is also strong in the air and is equally adept at scoring with either foot.

Murat Yakin – One of the most underrated defenders in European soccer, Murat Yakin (Hakin’s older brother) provides Switzerland with a stable and steady presence in the middle of defence with partner Patrick Muller. He defends high crosses with the greatest of ease and isn’t afraid to venture forward and join the attack. He also possesses a mean free-kick.

Key injuries/squad omissions:
The Swiss suffered a huge blow when striker Marco Streller suffered a double fracture of his left leg in training in late May. Also out due to injury is forward Leonard Thurre (torn calf muscle), paving the way for strikers Johann Vonlanthen and Milaim Rama to earning spots on the Swiss squad. Key defender Murat Yakin may not be at his best in Portugal because he is coming off surgery on a troublesome thigh injury. Midfielder Ricardo Cabanas, sent off against Russia in the qualifiers, will miss Switzerland’s opener against Croatia through suspension. Surprisingly, defenders Stephane Grichting and Remo Meyer both missed the final cut. Defender Ludovic Magnin is just coming off a layoff due to a thigh injury. Midfielder Johann Lonfat withdrew from the team this past week due to a back injury. He was replaced by 19-year-old Tranquillo Barnetta who has yet to earn a cap for the national team.

Prognosis:
It was a tribute to Switzerland’s work ethic that they earned the right to play in Portugal, but those Swiss fans that think they can make an impact at Euro 2004 are in for a rude awakening. Playing in a group with defending champion France and England is hard enough. Playing in a group that also includes Croatia – who itself will have to battle just to earn a third-place spot in Group B - makes it all the more unlikely that the Swiss will advance to the next round. They need to win their opening game against the Croats (no small feat) and then defeat either France or England (highly unlikely) to have even the slightest chance of moving on. Considering the bulk of the side are bench-warmers during the regular season in the top European leagues, Switzerland will be lacking match fitness and will be buried by their more skilled and game-sharp opponents.

Current FIFA Ranking: #47

First-round matches:
June 13 vs. Croatia (Leiria)
June 17 vs. England (Coimbra)
June 21 vs. France (Coimbra)

Euro 2004 qualification route:
Finished 1st in qualifying Group 10 (15 points) ahead of second-place Russia (14 points).

Record in qualifying: 4 wins, 3 draws, 1 loss
Goals for: 15 Goals against: 11

Qualifying results:
09.08.2002 - Switzerland 4 Georgia 1
10.12.2002 - Switzerland 1 Albania 1
10.16.2002 – Switzerland 2 Republic of Ireland 1
04.02.2003 - Switzerland 0 Georgia 0
06.07.2003 – Switzerland 2 Russia 2
06.11.2003 – Switzerland 3 Albania 2
09.10.2003 – Russia 4 Switzerland 1
10.11.2003 – Switzerland 2 Republic of Ireland 0

Number of Previous Euro Appearances: 2
All-time record: 4 GP -- 0 W, 1 D, 3 L Goals for: 2 Goals against: 5
Biggest defeat: 1-3 vs. the Netherlands in 1964
Best result: 1-1 vs. England in 1996

Euro History:
1960 – did not enter competition
1964 – first round
1968 – did not qualify
1972 – did not qualify
1976 – did not qualify
1980 – did not qualify
1984 – did not qualify
1988 – did not qualify
1992 – did not qualify
1996 – first round
2000 – did not qualify

Other Achievements:
World Cup quarter-finalists: 1934 France, 1938 Italy and 1954 Switzerland
2002 UEFA European Under-17 Champions
Olympic Silver Medal: 1924 in Paris

Greatest Players:
Alain Sutter: Star midfielder who helped the Swiss make it to the second round of the 1994 World Cup. Sutter went on to make a name for himself with the Dallas Burn of Major League Soccer.

Ciriaco Sforza: A key member of Switzerland’s 1994 World Cup team. The gritty midfielder played for some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Kaiserslautern.